Gentlemen Prefer Spinsters (Spinsters Club #1)(37)

Chapter Fifteen





Harcourt stilled at a knocking sound coming from the dower house. He doubted Merry had heeded his warning yesterday—or realized quite how terrified he’d been when he saw that carriage strike her. She’d been so damned close to being killed that he hadn’t slept a wink all night.

Something that had not passed Griff, his mother or his estate manager’s notice. He had dark circles under his eyes as proof and he couldn’t prevent himself from yawning. If anything would have happened to her...

If anything did happen to her...

He found the front door of the dower house open and followed the sound of hammering. If someone else didn’t kill Merry, he’d have a tough time not throttling her himself. Fool woman was determined to be careless with her safety. Why did she think leaving the door open, so anyone could walk in, was acceptable?

“Merry?”

The hammering noise stopped, and a head peered around the corner of one door. “Lord Langley. Whatever are you doing here?”

“Mr. Nicholson. I was about to ask you the same.”

The carpenter stepped out from behind the doorframe and lowered his hammer. “I was fixing this window. Seems it took a battering from the wind. Then I’m to finish up the door. Lady Merry left for Brycesbury after issuing her orders not long ago.” The slight smile on the old man’s face had Harcourt imagining Merry had been quite specific in her orders.

“I do not suppose you know why she was going to town?”

He pressed fingers to his forehead. “Said something about wallpaper.” He shrugged. “I try not to listen to ladies’ conversations, but I think that was what they said.”

“They?”

“Miss Sophia Pemberton?”

Harcourt nodded. Sophia might not be the sort of escort he had in mind for her, but it was better than no one he supposed. Still, it was clear she had not taken him seriously. He’d have to remedy that.

“Thanks, Frank. Have a good afternoon.”

“And you, my lord.”

The hammering resumed as soon as Harcourt left the building. He had not planned on going to Brycesbury today, but he could do with speaking to his accountant anyway. If he so happened to find Merry while he was there, so much the better. He could reassure himself she was well, and he’d be damned if the woman didn’t need another speaking to. He pushed a hand through his hair and put his hat back on. He’d always known Merry was a handful, but the bloody woman was turning him gray. If she was not kissing him as though he were the only man in the world then refusing him, she was determined to put herself in danger.

He made his way back to Lulworth Castle and found Griff stepping out of the doorway.

“Chasing after a certain woman again?” his friend asked with a grin.

Harcourt ignored the question. “I’m heading to Brycesbury. Do you want to accompany me?”

“Why not? I could do with a stretch of my legs.”

“I’m riding in. It’s a little way on foot.” Harcourt led the way to the stables where they fetched horses. Thankfully several were already saddled, ready for exercise so he did not have to waste any time waiting. Brycesbury was only a forty-five-minute brisk ride away so he’d have a good chance of meeting Merry there. He’d have to ready himself for her ire at being followed but he did not much care at this point. So long as she was safe, that was all that mattered.

Pushing his horse as fast as she could muster, they made it to Brycesbury in even quicker time. The town was smaller compared to the likes of London or even other towns in Dorset, but it was the nearest to Lulworth and boasted many shops. For those who did not wish to travel far, it was ideal. His mother complained there were no fashionable people or interesting places in the bustling town, hence her frequent trips to Bath, but he rather liked the quaint air of the place.

He grimaced. Now he really did sound old. Merry was having a strange effect on him. Was it not enough that she had persuaded him into the idea of matrimony without even trying? Now he was comparing Brycesbury to London—and favorably so.

“An attractive place,” Griff commented, “but what are we doing here?”

“I need to see my accountant.” Harcourt dismounted and tethered the horse to a hitching post. “Do you want to explore the town on your own while I visit with him?”

Griff shrugged. “I am well-used to being abandoned by you these days.”

“Need I keep reminding you that you invited yourself here.”

His friend held up a hand. “Yes, yes, I know. I am an utterly unwanted guest. It’s a fine job this neglect is in pursuit of a woman or I would be sore about it indeed.”

“You’re not unwanted, Griff, but you did manage to choose the worst time to decide you like the country.”

“I will confess, there is something diverting about it.”

Harcourt chuckled. “You mean there is something diverting about all the ladies that you have never met before.”

“The country air does seem to breed attractive women,” Griff mused. He glanced around. “I see a coffee shop. Leave me there and I shall meet you in an hour.”

Harcourt nodded. “That works.”

Leaving Griff, he set off toward the curtain shop, ignoring his accountant’s place of work entirely. He would worry about that once he had assured himself Merry was safe. He found the shop to be empty once he arrived and the shopkeeper informed him that two young ladies had been in a mere ten minutes ago. Harcourt must have just missed them. He thanked the shopkeeper and headed out once more, scanning the streets for them.